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Photo thanks to jake
Temperature: 22 - 27c
pH Level: 7.0 - 8.2
General Hardness: Medium - Hard
Max. Size: 35 - 40cm
Realistic Max. Size: 30cm
Tank Size: 5X2X2+
Feeding: Any smallish pellet suitable for omnivores/herbivores.
Temperament: Can show mild aggression to fellow scats. Otherwise peaceful.
About: Scats are great looking fish that are always active! They eat everything offered to them and will happily mow down any plants in the aquarium which is probably the only thing I didnt like about them. They seem to eat hair algae as well which can be helpful.
Silver Scats grow quite fast and require a lot of room to swim. They grow up to a foot long and are pretty much round so require a tank at least 2 feet deep as they get older.
They are far more comfortable in small groups. They get along very well with Archers, Barramundi, Monos and Sleepy Cod. Silver Scats have a combination of spots and stripes that remain the same as they mature unlike common red and green scats that tend to lose their colour and definition as they get older.
Scats can inflict quite painful wounds so be careful when handling and avoid their spines.
They are quite adaptable to fresh or brackish conditions. Mine were always kept in fresh water and they grew well and looked happy enough. Their new owner has continued to keep them in fresh water too. Their natural life cycle takes them from fresh water as fry - juvies to full brackish water as they mature.
Silver Scats sell for about $50 each as they get older but can be found for around $20 each at 3 -5cm though they are often seen for sale for as much as $35 each at 3 5cm.
Article reproduced with permission of the author, Paul Cuttriss (murrayman85). Many thanks for this excellent contribution.
DE
Relevant threads:
Habitat, biotype species & traditional owners' name:
http://www.aquariumlife.com.au/showt...+multifasciata
Pic & tankmates:
http://www.aquariumlife.com.au/showt...+multifasciata
http://www.aquariumlife.com.au/showt...+multifasciata